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United States Patent 3,186,086 POCKET INSTRUMENT Louis J. Saifores, 819 Reichert Ave., Novato, Calif. Filed July 17, 1963, Ser. No. 295,723 2 Claims. (Cl. 30358) This invention relates to a pocket instrument particularly useful in applying a combination of handwritten and punched hole data to a unit record. For example, as used in deer hunting, a shipping tag must be filled out and attached to the animal after killing. The tag has a number of punched hole locations which must be selectively punched and also contains appropriate spaces for providing handwritten information.

Therefore, it is a general object of this invention to provide an improved pocket instrument, incorporating punch means.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pocket instrument with a sheathed punch whereby the sheath or cap is firmly retained even though only partially covering the punching elements.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pocket instrument incorporating sheathed punch members arranged to permit the cap to be easily aligned with a retaining ferrule, or seat.

Other objects of the invention will be more clearly apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a pocket instrument according to the invention as utilized to prepare punched hole data on a shipping tag.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view of a portion of the pocket instrument with the cap or sheath in place.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation, partially in section, of the invention with the cap removed.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation, partially in section, of the punch unit of the pocket instrument showing the punch members in a closed position.

FIGURE 5 shows a portion of the pocket instrument according to the invention with the punch members closed, showing pivotable movements permitted according to the invention for aligning the cap with its retaining ferrule.

As shown in the drawing, a pocket instrument has been provided in general comprising a cylindrical holder constituting both a handle for the punch and a body portion for a Writing instrument. A ferrule at one end of the holder is provided and formed to include a hollow cylindrical portion extending therefrom. The cylindrical portion is open at one end and a pair of elongated punch members are pivotally mounted interiorly of and extending from the open end of the portion. Male and female dies are carried at the distal ends of the members respectively, and means are provided for resiliently urging the distal ends of the members apart to receive material to be punched therebetween. The construction shown provides a means for fimly holding a hollow cap or sheath upon the two punch members notwithstanding the fact that it may not be firmly in place upon its retaining ferrule. Thus, inadvertent loss of the pocket instrument tends to be minimized. This obviously is of considerable advantage when being carried in the pocket of a hunter. Thus, a hollow cap for sheathing the punch members is provided. The exterior surface of the ferrule is formed and adapted to snugly receive one end of this cap and thereby provide a seat. Each of the punch members is formed to provide a cap engaging pressure point in the region of the distal end of each member so as to yieldingly and slidably engage the cap at a position remote from the seat. These pressure points, applied by outward urging against the inside of the cap by the spring means, serve to retain the cap when it is out of engagement with the exterior surface of the ferrule. The pressure points furthermore serve to permit a pivotal aligning movement of the cap from the distal ends of the punch members when the cap is slidably moved into a seating placement on the ferrule. The other end of the holder is provided with a writing element for providing handwritten information.

More particularly, and referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts, there is shown a cylindrical holder 10 provided with a writing element 11 in one end protected by a sheath 12 thereover. Element 11 can, for example, comprise a conventional ball point pen, a pencil, or other marking instrument. The other end of holder 10 carries a ferrule 13 threadably secured thereto as by the portion 14. Ferrule 13 is formed to include a hollow cylindrical portion 15 extending therefrom and open at one end. A pair of elongated punch members 16, 17 are each independently mounted upon a pivot pin 18 extending transversely across portion Means for resiliently urging the distal ends of members 16, 17 apart to receive material to be punched therebetween includes a spring 19 disposed around pin 18 and provided with leaves 19a acting upon members 16, 17. The distal ends of members 16, 17 respectively include a male and female die element 21, 22. Element 21 can be in the form of a sharpened stud, for example, while element 22 can be formed as a coacting hole provided with cleanly formed sharp edges. The inner wall or lip 23 of ferrule portion 15 serves to limit the displacement of members 16, 17. Thus when members 16, 17 are compressed together as by the thumb and forefinger as shown in FIGURE 1, both members are free to pivot back and forth across the longitudinal center line of the ferrule 13.

A hollow cap 27 is provided for sheathing punch members 16, 17 and is formed at its open end so as to be snugly received upon the exterior surface of portion 15 forming a seat. As demonstrated in FIGURE 5, each of the punch members 16, 17 is formed to provide a cap engaging pressure points 25, 26 in the region of the distal end of each. These pressure points yieldingly and slidably engage the inside of the cap at a position remote from the seat formed by portion 15. Thus, as cap 27 is initially slipped over the ends of members 16, 17 and the latter are released, pressure points 25, 26 permit a pivotable movement of cap 27 near the distal end of members 16, 17. Inasmuch as the proximal ends of members 16, 17 are also free to pivot, cap 27, though firmly engaged, is substantially free to be aligned as desired with its seat until it is received thereby.

On the other hand, inasmuch as cap 27 is engaged by pressure points 25, 26 in addition to the snug fit of portion 15, should cap 27 become dislodged from portion 15 ressure points 25, 26 continue to serve to hold cap 27 in suflicient engagement to prevent the pocket instrument from being lost.

In addition to the advantages noted above, the bridge formed by the punch members whereby the holder 10 is pivoted at one end and the cap at the other, serves to impart a rather desirable feel of firmness and quality to the instrument.

1 claim:

1. A pocket instrument for filling out forms requiring handwritten and punched hole data comprising a cylindrical holder adapted to carry a writing element at one end of said holder, a ferrule carried at the other end of said holder, said ferrule being formed to include a hollow cylindrical portion extending therefrom and open at one end, a pair of elongated punch members pivotally mounted interiorly of and extending from the open end of said portion, male and female dies carried by the distal ends of said members respectively, means resiliently urging the free ends of said members apart to receive material to Patented June 1, 1965 be punched therebetween, a hollow cap for sheathing said punch members, the exterior surface of said ferrule portion being formed and adapted to snugly receive one end of said cap and form a seat for same, each of said punch members being formed to provide a cap engaging pressure point in the region of the free end of each and pivoted continuously free after insertion into said cap to yieldingly and slidably continuously bear against said cap via said pressure points at a position remote from the pivoted end of each to retain said cap when out of engagement with the exterior surface of the ferrule and to permit pivotal aligning movement of the cap with respect to the seat at both ends of said members during placement of said cap onto said exterior surface.

2. A pocket instrument for filling out forms requiring handwritten and punched hole data comprising a cylindrical holder adapted to carry a writing element at one end of said holder, a ferrule carried at the other end of said holder, said ferrule being formed to include a hollow cylindrical portion extending therefrom and open at one end, a pair of elongated punch members pivotally mounted interiorly of and extending from the open end of said portion, male and female dies carried by the distal ends of said members respectively, means resiliently urging the free ends of said members apart to receive material to be punched therebetween, a hollow cap for sheathing said punch members, the exterior surface of said ferrule portion being formed and adapted to snugly receive one end of said cap and form a seat for same, each of said punch members being formed to provide a cap engaging pressure point in the region of the free end of each and pivoted continuously unrestrained after insertion into said cap to resiliently and slidably continuously bear against said cap via said pressure points at a position remote from the pivoted end of each to retain said cap when out of engagement With the exterior surface of the ferrule and to permit pivotal aligning movement of the cap with respect to the seat at both ends of said members during placement of said cap onto said exterior surface, said exterior surface of the ferrule being smooth to slidably receive and frictionally engage said cap.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 305,521 9/84 Kerner 30-152 881,302 3/08 Coler. 1,217,870 2/17 Klaes 30'358 1,766,308 6/30 Rochat 85-589 X 1,892,735 1/33 Pineda et al.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, Examiner. 

1. A POCKET INSTRUMENT FOR FILLING OUT FORMS REQUIRING HANDWRITTEN AND PUNCHED HOLE DATA COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL HOLDER ADAPTED TO CARRY A WRITING ELEMENT AT ONE END OF SAID HOLDER, A FERRULE CARRIED AT THE OTHER END OF SAID HOLDER, SAID FERRULE BEING FORMED TO INCLUDE A HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL PORTION EXTENDING THEREFROM AND OPEN AT ONE END, A PAIR OF ELONGATED PUNCH MEMBERS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED INTERIORLY OF AND EXTENDING FROM THE OPEN END OF SAID PORTION, MALE AND FEMALE DIES CARRIED BY THE DISTAL ENDS OF SAID MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY, MEANS RESILIENTLY URGING THE FREEN ENDS OF SAID MEMBERS APART TO RECEIVE MATERIAL TO BE PUNCHED THEREBETWEEN, A HOLLOW CAP FOR SHEATHING SAID PUNCH MEMBERS, THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID FERRULE PORTION BEING FORMED AND ADAPTED TO SNUGLY RECEIVE ONE END OF SAID CAP AND FORM A SEAT FOR SAME, EACH OF SAID PUNCH MEMBERS BEING FORMED TO PROVIDE A CAP ENGAGING PRESSURE POINT IN THE REGION OF THE FREE END OF EACH AND PIOTED CONTINUOUSLY FREE AFTER INSERTION INTO CAP TO YIELDINGLY AND SLIDABLY CONTINUOUSLY BEAR AGAINST CAP VIA SAID PRESSURE POINTS AT A POSITION REMOTE FROM THE PIVOTED END OF EACH TO RETAIN SAID CAP WHEN OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF THE FERRULE AND TO PERMIT PIVOTAL ALIGNING MOVEMENT OF THE CAP WITH RESPECT TO THE SEAT AT BOTH ENDS OF SAID MEMBERS DURING PLACEMENT OF SAID CAP ONTO SAID EXTERIOR SURFACE. 